Two routers connected to one ISP provider.
Two routers connected to one ISP provider.
Hello. You're exploring networking options to set up a dedicated learning environment without affecting your household. It sounds like you're considering using two routers connected via a switch, possibly with NAT settings. Fiber from your ISP through a media converter is a solid foundation. Whether two routers can operate independently depends on proper configuration—each should have its own IP address, and you may need to request additional IPs from your ISP if needed. If that's not feasible, look into setting up a VLAN or separate subnet for each router to maintain independence.
It relies completely on the setup of your internet service provider. Certain providers give one IP address per customer, while others offer multiple. For instance, my ISP could provide up to five IPs if needed. In your situation, you might need to experiment yourself or contact your ISP for clarification.
What ISP is involved? It seems like some devices are doing unusual actions between their routers and the network. Typically, you should have one IP address for a home internet connection, so this switch won't function properly. I just placed your router in front of the first router and enabled IP forwarding on it.
I’m also trying to configure something similar. Probably you’ll need to connect your experimental router after your current one and turn off DHCP for the new device. This suggests you’ll handle most port forwarding through the main router. You’ll likely have to manually give IP addresses to connected devices and set up VLANs for network separation. I’m not sure which router model requires these settings, but most don’t need a restart when assigning IPs and forwarding traffic. If you want both routers working together, using a second public IP is often recommended. The main point is that this isn’t usually available with typical residential ISPs, even with extra investment. Double NAT could be an alternative, but I don’t have enough details to confirm.
You can apply any settings on your own router when you connect them. It should work fine. The ISP might be causing issues because it's likely not fully compatible with the ONT and its router.
I possess this information. The device is a 2Wire 5268AC router.
They don’t need a switch in front of their router since it uses 802.1x security. Just place your router next to theirs, and that should work. They only have one IP address assigned from them, so set up your router as the IP forwarding device or as a secondary router.
You're free to manage your own router independently, as it operates on its separate network, so the attached device won't interfere with its performance.